When Destiny Folded Its Hands
By Lokanath Mishra
Raghav earned little, but he lived honestly.
He worked in a modest private firm, travelled by crowded buses, and carried his dreams in a worn leather bag. His biggest asset was not money—but sincerity.
For years, his heart belonged to Ananya Mehra, the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. She lived a life Raghav could only admire from a distance—big cars, branded clothes, and comfort without counting.
One evening, summoning courage he had saved for years, Raghav expressed his feelings.
Ananya looked at him—calm, composed, distant.
“Raghav,” she said bluntly,
“what you earn in a whole month is my daily pocket expense.”
“Be practical. Love doesn’t suit people like you.”
“Please don’t dream beyond your status. Forget me.”
Her words were polite.
Their impact was cruel.
That day, Raghav walked home alone, learning a painful lesson—
that self-respect sometimes costs love.
Years passed. Life moved on.
Raghav healed.
He worked harder.
He built a life quietly.
He married Sila, a woman of simple habits and strong values. Together, they built a home filled with warmth, not luxury. God blessed them with two children, whose laughter became Raghav’s greatest wealth.
One Sunday morning, destiny intervened.
Raghav visited a famous temple with Sila and the children. The air was filled with bells, incense, and folded hands. While standing in the queue, a familiar voice startled him.
“Raghav…? Is that you?”
It was Ananya.
She was dressed elegantly, adorned with jewellery, pride still visible in her posture.
“So many years!” she said, glancing briefly at his simple clothes.
“I’m married now. My husband earns nearly ₹15 lakh per month.”
“He’s very successful, very smart. Life has been kind to me.”
Raghav listened silently. His wife Sila stood beside him, holding their children—calm, graceful, dignified.
Before anything else could be said, a man hurried toward them and touched Raghav’s feet.
“Sir, I was searching for you everywhere.”
Ananya looked confused.
The man turned to her.
“He is my boss—the man heading our ₹800-crore project.”
“Everything I have is because of his guidance.”
Then, with a gentle smile, he added:
“There is one thing about my boss…”
“He once loved a woman deeply, but she didn’t believe in his future.”
“He moved on, built his life, and found happiness in a simple family.”
“Some people lose diamonds while searching for gold.”
Ananya stood speechless.
She looked at Raghav again—
not as the poor boy she rejected,
but as a fulfilled man,
standing peacefully with his wife and children,
hands folded before God.
Raghav bowed to the deity and walked away.
Not with pride.
Not with revenge.
But with gratitude.
Because life had taught him something far greater than success:
Money can buy comfort,
but values build destiny.
Final Thought:
Never underestimate anyone because of their present.
Time changes status, situations, and stories.
Where ego once rejected,
destiny later explains—without words.
🙏 What God writes, no human judgment can erase.